3 Baseball Players Ejected for Standing Too Long During Anthem

Three baseball players just proved that sometimes you can show too much respect during the national anthem, at least according to one umpire.

Angels reliever Brent Suter and rehabbing Rays pitchers Steven Wilson and Manuel Rodríguez were all ejected from Saturday's game at Tropicana Field before a single pitch was thrown. Their crime? They wouldn't sit down after "The Star-Spangled Banner" ended.

The unusual "standoff" began innocently enough. As the anthem concluded, the three players remained standing at attention in front of their respective dugouts. Wilson and Rodríguez even had company, flanked by Rays mascots Raymond and DJ Kitty in what appeared to be a playful protest.

With the starting pitcher ready on the mound and the leadoff batter in the box, the trio still refused to take their seats. Third-base umpire Lance Barrett finally had enough and calmly ejected all three players moments before the scheduled 4:10 p.m. first pitch.

The ejections were largely symbolic since none of the players were likely to see game action anyway. Suter had pitched the night before, throwing 25 pitches in Friday's game. Rodríguez and Wilson have been on the injured list all season, recovering from elbow surgery and back inflammation respectively.

Sunny's Take

This quirky moment reminds us that sports can still surprise us with unexpected humor and personality. In an era of endless highlight reels and serious competition, three players found a creative way to show their patriotism while bringing smiles to everyone watching.

The game itself turned into a wild affair, with the Angels ultimately winning 14-3 after Wade Meckler hit a grand slam in the first inning.

Sometimes the best stories happen before the game even starts.